Network Rail
Health & Safety Manager
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Who We Are
Join Network Rail! Where People and Connections Matter
At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team—you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.
We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.
About The Role
About your Business Area:
Following the UK Government's policy announcement on Northern Powerhouse Rail, Network Rail is growing its team to develop this multi-billion pound rail investment which will improve rail connectivity in the North of England.
Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) programme spans from Liverpool, through Manchester and on to Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, and York and builds on the benefits planned from the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade programme.
This job is one of several exciting opportunities to join the growing team in NPR in this early stage of development. You will be part of the challenge and innovation required to drive efficiency and value for money for the UK taxpayer. It is important that our product is an affordable and sustainable railway that brings our passengers and freight users more frequent, faster, greener trains, running on a better, cleaner, and more reliable railway.
We recognise that flexibility is necessary for helping our people excel, both professionally and personally. At Network Rail we have a flexible working policy which allows up to 40% of our working hours, to be completed from home. Alongside this, most of our team benefit from some form of individual working arrangement including reduced or compressed hours, to balance business and individual needs.
We recognise the importance of flexibility in attracting and retaining great people to work on NPR and are very happy to consider proposals to meet individual needs.
This role can be based in Manchester or York.
Job Purpose
NPR is committed to developing the future railway network for the North of England, placing the safety and health of the entire workforce at the heart of programme development and delivery.
Reporting to the Head of Safety & Sustainable Development (S&SD) you will provide health and safety expertise to support compliance with Network Rail (NR) standards and the ongoing development and implementation of the NPR Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HS&W) Strategy and Construction Design and Management (CDM) Strategy.
Working across the portfolio the principal activities of the role include:
- Collaboration with the Safety & Sustainability Leadership Team, supplier HS&W specialists, CDM stakeholders, and NR programme, engineering, and management teams.
- Providing specialist HS&W and CDM advice and support to programme teams and other stakeholders.
- Developing assurance plans and conducting assurance activities to ensure suppliers meet Contract Requirements and NR standards.
- Playing a significant role in developing and driving HS&W initiatives across the portfolio, including leading the CDM Forum and the HS&W Forum.
- Engaging wider Network Rail functions to ensure that existing requirements and those subject to change are fully understood.
- Further development, implementation and ongoing co-ordination of activities across all programmes driven by the portfolio's Management of Site Activities document.
- Deputising for the Head of S&SD where appropriate.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Key Accountabilities
- Provide functional support, guidance, and professional expertise to the project teams on all health and safety matters affecting the portfolio of projects to deliver successful execution of the programme or works.
- Work directly with the project teams providing health and safety direction.
- Lead/Direct periodic meetings with the contracting organisations to share best practice and lessons learnt.
- Provide support to the project teams on inspection and monitoring of the safety and environmental performance of projects and monitor so that a consistent approach is taken to contractor occupational and construction safety across all projects within the portfolio.
- Work with project teams to determine practical and deliverable measures to improve health & safety performance within projects.
- Support the programme teams in the investigation of accidents and incidents and in the implementation of resulting recommendations.
- Provide the single point of contact for the project portfolio with ORR and other health and safety organisations for day-to-day site health and safety.
- Co-ordinate the health & safety activities of the programme and maintain effective liaison with other Regions, Programmes and Major Projects and aligned routes.
Essential Criteria
- Must be a member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) at Certified Member of IOSH (CertIOSH) level or above.
- Significant experience in the successful management of health, safety, environment and assurance issues on major programmes of work in the construction and/or rail industries.
- Project Safety Management course.
Desirable Criteria
- NEBOSH diploma, IEMA certificate.
- An experienced Health and Safety practitioner.
- Knowledge of Behavioural Change techniques.
- Knowledge of Network Rail's systems and processes.
- Working knowledge of rules, regulations and NR standards applicable to contractor safety, including standards relating to planning and delivery of work in the operational rail environment.
- Knowledge of the Construction Design & Management (CDM) Regulations, particularly applied to rail infrastructure development, and experience of applying associated NR systems & processes.
- Applied knowledge and experience of using NR standards, systems and processes for the management of safety in the operational railway environment.
- Strong data analysis and presentation skills, both verbal and written.
- Practical experience applying supplier assurance and safe systems of work across complex programmes.
- Ability to apply CDM requirements proportionately through programme planning and risk management.
- Ability to influence, coach and challenge teams and suppliers to improve consistency and share learning.
- Clear written and verbal communication, with strong planning and stakeholder management skills.
Please note: Applicants must provide proof of essential qualifications and/or competencies where required, or demonstrate active progress toward obtaining them, or evidence their applicable experience as a condition of employment.
External How To Apply
Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
We are a Disability Confident Leader employer! We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
We are here to support you through every step of the recruitment process and to enable you to perform to the best of your ability. If you require any adjustments or modifications please contact Mark Holt (Resourcing Business Partner) at mark.holt@networkrail.co.uk. You can also visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.
We positively embrace flexible working, recognising that employees may wish to balance work with their family and home life.
Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here
Network Rail is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre-employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK and previous three years employment history.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information. Please ensure you have the appropriate Right to Work status when applying for this role.
Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do, safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should be able to demonstrate your personal commitment to safety and awareness of our safety vision.
Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including a choice of contributory pension schemes, a generous annual leave package, a bonus scheme and an annual 75% subsidy on season tickets costing up to £3,333 (to a maximum amount of £2,500). You will also be entitled to 28 days annual leave
Salary: £55,596 to £67,813 per annum.
Employees will be entitled to a 75% discount off leisure travel, this includes off peak and super off peak tickets*
Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.
Closing date 28th September 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.
What's In It For You
Here are a few of the benefits we offer
- 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
- Choice of pension schemes
- 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family
- Private Healthcare
- 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
- Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
- Gym Pass - access to gyms across UK
- My Benefits platform- giving national and local retail discount
Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we'll do our best to assist you.
Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information
Your Experience And Skills
A capable HS&W professional who can operate confidently across a complex major infrastructure portfolio, providing
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location